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| Gulf Islands/Princess Louisa Inlet Itinerary
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October 8, 2002
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With so much to see and do in these waters, it's a challenge to design a cruise to fit everything in. Here's a letter from a reader, with our response.
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We are planning to go to princess Louisa and Chatterbox falls next August or September. We have 14 days. Our goal is to head up through the Gulf Islands and back down the same way. Do you have a suggested itinerary? Thanks.
John Hollis
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Response
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You don't say what your departure point is, and that can affect any proposed itinerary. Just this September, for instance, it took us extra days to get from Seattle to the Gulf Islands because of a noon departure and high winds. But it took only one day to get home from the Gulf Islands because there was no wind and we had favorable currents all the way. So you can see the uncertainty that's built into any 2-week cruise.
With that in mind, I would make Princess Louisa Inlet my first priority. Depending on the weather, this could mean that you work your way quickly through the Gulf Islands and cross from Silva Bay or Nanaimo, or perhaps go out on the Strait of Georgia for the long run to Pender Harbour or an anchorage near the mouth of Jervis Inlet. That's if the winds allow a quick run to Jervis Inlet. If it's blowing a howler out on the Strait then you relax and explore the Gulf Islands, always watching for your opportunity to get up to Jervis Inlet.
Assuming you can go to Princess Louisa Inlet early in the cruise, enjoy your time there and then go back down to a jumping-off point to get to the Gulf Islands. If it's blowing, you can explore Hotham Sound, Blind Bay or Pender Harbour while you wait for things to calm down. Whatever time is left can be spent in the Gulf Islands.
The important thing is to have your general plans in mind, but keep them flexible so you can move the pieces around to fit the conditions and your mood at the time.
--Bob Hale
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